The Ballad of the Boat

The stream was smooth as glass, we said: "Arise
and let's away; "
The Siren sang beside the boat that in the rushes
lay,
And spread the sail, and strong the oar, we gaily
took our way.
When shall the sandy bar be cross'd? When shall
we find the bay?

The broadening flood swells slowly out o'er cattle-
dotted plains,
The stream is strong and turbulent, and dark with
heavy rains.
The labourer looks up to see our shallop speed
away.
When shall the sandy bar be cross'd? When shall
we find the bay?

Now are the clouds like fiery shrouds; the sun,
superbly large,
Slow as an oak to woodman's stroke sinks flaming
at their marge.
The waves are bright with mirror'd light as jacinths
on our way.
When shall the sandy bar be cross'd? When shall
wc find the bay?

The moon is high up in the sky, and now no more
we see
The spreading river's either bank, and surging
distantly
There booms a sullen thunder as of breakers far
away.
Now shall the sandy bar be cross'd, now shall we
find the bay!

The seagull shrieks high overhead, and dimly to our
sight
The moonlit crests of foaming waves gleam towering
through the night.
We'll steal upon the mermaid soon, and start her
from her lay,
When once the sandy bar is cross'd, and we are in
the bay.

What rises white and awful as a shroud-enfolded
ghost?
What roar of rampant tumult bursts in clangour on
the coast?
Pull back! pull back! The raging flood sweeps every
oar away.
O stream, is this thy bar of sand? O boat, is this the
bay?